THQ has announced Red Faction: Battlegrounds, the first downloadable game in the franchise's history. The game won't launch until next year - but will be available for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Red Faction: Battlegrounds will take the form of a "fast paced" multiplayer vehicle combat game featuring tanks and mechs.

Full skinny after the jump:

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AGOURA HILLS, Calif., August 16, 2010 – Mechs or tanks? The age-old debate will be settled on Mars as THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced the development of Red Faction®: BattlegroundsTM, the first downloadable title in the history of the acclaimed Red Faction® sci-fi/action franchise.

Scheduled to explode onto to Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®Network for the PlayStation 3 system in 2011, Red Faction: Battlegrounds is a fast-paced multiplayer-focused vehicular combat game in which fast-attack vehicles, heavy tanks and combat walkers wreak havoc above ground and beneath the surface of Mars. Staying true to the Red Faction universe, players can demolish anything that stands in their way, from military compounds to enemy vehicles, using advance Martian artillery and explosives.

Developed by THQ Digital Studios UK and executive produced by Volition, Inc., Red Faction: Battlegrounds pits four players either locally or online in a variety of game modes, including Survival, Annihilate and Flag Frenzy. Players rank up and are rewarded with unique bonus content that will be playable in the upcoming Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Windows PC game, Red Faction®: ArmageddonTM.

“The pick-up-and-play multiplayer action of Red Faction: Battlegrounds adds a completely new perspective to the acclaimed Red Faction franchise," said Kevin Kraff, Vice President of Global Brand Management, THQ. "Just as in other Red Faction games, you can pretty much blow up everything. Only this time, you do it with your friends using hulking mechs, armored tanks and combat walkers."

Red Faction: Battlegrounds will be playable at Gamescom 2010 in Cologne, Germany, from August 18-22. THQ will be located in the Business Center at Hall 5.1, Both B10, and on the show floor at Hall 8.1, Booth B31.